Russian-born actress Irina Baeva has spent the past decade becoming one of the most recognizable faces in Mexican television, building a career in telenovelas that began with a leap of faith from Moscow to Mexico City. Today, as she captivates audiences as the glamorous and calculating Cassandra in TelevisaUnivision's 'Tan cerca de ti el amor,' Baeva says one of the biggest secrets to bringing her unforgettable villains to life isn't hidden in the script. It's in her closet.
Every pair of shoes her characters wear belongs to her.
"The shoes for Cassandra are mine, and actually the shoes for all of my characters are mine," Baeva told me during a recent interview while promoting 'Tan cerca de ti el amor,' and appearing as a guest host on several Univision programs.
The confession surprised even longtime fans of the actress, whose impeccable style has become almost as recognizable as the strong-willed women she portrays on screen. But for Baeva, it is much more than a fashion statement.
She traces the tradition back to her first major television role in 'Pasión y Poder,' when veteran costume designer Marta, whom she affectionately credits for the lesson, encouraged her to invest in her own footwear.
"She told me, 'The ideal thing is for the shoes to be yours because you're on set for so many hours. If they've already molded to your feet, you'll be much more comfortable,'" Baeva recalled. "From then on, I made it a habit to give every character that personal touch."
The actress now arrives on set carrying a suitcase filled with shoes and accessories, carefully selecting pieces that fit each role.
"I always try to add that personal touch. Sometimes I also lend my characters clothes. Not as much anymore, but whenever the production allows me that creative freedom, I love doing it," she said.
That freedom proved especially valuable while creating Cassandra, one of 'Tan cerca de ti el amor' standout antagonists, who makes costars Oka Giner and David Zepeda's lives very complicated. Working alongside producer Ignacio "Nacho" Sada, Baeva helped shape a sophisticated look that evolves as the character transforms throughout the story.
"Fashion says so much about a character," she explained. "We all express ourselves through our clothes, and Cassandra is one of those characters where the look matters tremendously." Many of Cassandra's outfits were custom-made by Televisa's costume department, but Baeva completed the wardrobe with her own shoes and accessories.
Among her favorite looks is Cassandra's dramatic transformation, featuring a sharply tailored suit, while another memorable ensemble pairs a reconstructed white dress with a brown corset. Ironically, she laughs, the outfit audiences are likely to admire the most turned out to be one of the hardest to wear.
"Everyone on set kept saying it was their favorite look, but it gave us so much trouble. It was constantly too big, then too small. It never fit perfectly," she said. "It looked spectacular on camera, but it was one of the most uncomfortable outfits I've ever worked in."
Irina Baeva's whish list
Although viewers have come to know her for dramatic roles, Baeva says comedy is the genre she hopes to explore next.
"I'd love to do more comedy," she said. "Doing theater helped me lose my fear of looking ridiculous, and that changed me as an actress." She believes Cassandra's humorous moments made the villain more entertaining and helped audiences connect with the story beyond its romance, motorcycles, and classic melodrama.
Off camera, Baeva is also embracing a new challenge. This week she stepped away from scripted drama to guest host several Univision programs, including 'Despierta América,' 'Siéntese Quien Pueda' and 'Desiguales.'
"I love it," she said. "Hosting is completely different from acting because you're not playing someone else. You're just being yourself. It's another side of me that people don't always get to see, and I'd really like to explore it more."
That versatility is something Baeva greatly admires in actress Margot Robbie, whom she describes as one of her biggest inspirations.
"What I love about Margot Robbie is how versatile she is," Baeva said. "She can do something as fun as Barbie and then completely transform herself for dramatic roles. She's constantly reinventing herself, and I think there's so much to learn from someone like that."
She also points to legendary British actress Vivien Leigh, particularly for her portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind, as another career she admires.
For Baeva, whose own journey took her from Russia to becoming one of the leading actresses in Mexican telenovelas, every new role is another opportunity to evolve. And if audiences notice Cassandra confidently walking across the screen in a pair of striking heels, chances are they're watching Irina Baeva quite literally step into character in her own shoes.
